Abramovich's publicist denies he was turned out of Tuscany restaurant

London, Aug.13 (ANI): Roman Abramovich's publicist has denied that the Russian billionaire was turned out of a high-end restaurant in Tuscany, Italy, a couple of days ago.

In a statement made available to ANI, John A. Mann IIead of Public Relations at the London-based publicity firm Millhouse, LLC, said: "Mr. Abramovich has been vacationing in Sardinia since he left from his home in Moscow at the beginning of last week. He has not visited Tuscany, and therefore could not have been turned away from the restaurant Bistrot as reported."

"Furthermore, he has not owned the yacht mentioned in the article, Le Grand Bleu, for over three years now. I do not know who is aboard Le Grand Bleu at present. I know you based the article on material from other press sources. We are working with several of them to have a clarification printed," the statement added.

Mann was responding to an earlier report that said that his request for a table at a restaurant in the fashionable resort of Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan coast was turned down at the weekend.

The Times, which filed the report, also attributed the refusal to the growing Italian backlash against the rich and powerful.

With many Italians finding it hard to make ends meet, with food and fuel prices rising and the economy at a standstill, "From north to south, a rebellion is growing against those who show off their money and power," claimed the Turin daily La Stampa.

The Times said that Abramovich, 41, the owner of Chelsea Football Club, was on his yacht Grand Bleu - which has five cooks and forty-five waiters, when he decided he wanted to dine at Bistrot, on the Forte dei Marmi seafront, where a meal costs between ?70 (?55) and ?100 a head.

David Vaiani, 36, the owner of Bistrot in Forte dei Marmi, is said to have told Abramovich that "unfortunately we are fully booked. You can try again tomorrow."

According to The Times, the Russian billionaire was reportedly "so furious" that he left the resort immediately, heading for Sardinia. (ANI)